Water supply and pump for fountains

ABSTRACT

A water supply and pump for fountains is disclosed which includes a cylindrical container for holding the water supply, pump means for moving the water supply from the container to a fountain and means for returning the water from the fountain to the container controlled by a float valve responsive in operation to the level of water in the container, a secondary float valve biases the first float valve to effect a cycle in the pumping action and switch means controlled by the first float valve controls the pumping means.

United States Patent inventor Harold L. Gordon 1529 First St.,Youngstown. Ohio 44509 Appl. No. 60.457 Filed Aug. 3, 1970 Patented Nov.9, 1971 WATER SUPPLY AND PUMP FOR FOUNTAINS 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 417/40.

137/412. 137/428, 239/20, 239/23 int. Cl n F041! 49/04 Field of Search417/40;

156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.604.492 10/1926 Smith a.417/40 Primary Examiner-Carlton R. Croyle Assistant Examiner-Richard J.Sher Auurney-Webster B. Harpman ABSTRACT: A water supply and pump forfountains is disclosed which includes a cylindrical container forholding the water supply. pump means for moving the water supply fromthe container to a fountain and means for returning the water from thefountain to the container controlled by a float valve responsive inoperation to the level ofwater in the container, at secondary floatvalve biases the first float valve to effect a cycle in the pumpingaction and switch means controlled by the first float valve controls thepumping means.

PATENTEnuuv 9 mn 3, 6 19,0 84

Ham/a L. Gordan WATER SUPPLY AND PUMP FOR FOUNTAINS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to waterfountains and pumps therefor wherein a supply of water is recirculatedto and from the fountain.

2. Description ofthe Prior Art Prior structures of this type usuallyemploy a continuously running pump which operates whether of not thereis water in the supply reservoir with the resulting cavitation of thepump at times and undesirable operating reactions thereto. Some priorart structures disclose fountains supplied by control valves responsiveto the water level in the fountain and dependent upon a separate watersupply source (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,628,631 and 3,306,263).

This invention eliminates such valves in the fountain area anddependence on a separate water supply and provides s simple inexpensivedevice which circulates the water to the fountain only when there is awater supply in the reservoir thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A water supply and pump for fountains includesa container for a water supply, a pump driven by an electric motor forcirculating water from the container to the fountain and a novel valvingarrangement whereby water from the fountain returns to the container byway of a valve chamber which in turn is controlled with respect to itscommunication with the container by a float valve. The same float valveoperates a switch controlling the pump motor. A secondary float valvebiases the first float valve with the result that a satisfactory supplyof water in the reservoir is always maintained and at such time as thesupply should be exhausted the pumping action is automaticallyterminated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of a fountainwith broken lines showing the location therein of the water supply andpump for the same.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the water supply and pump deviceshowing a low water level in the device and the pump inoperative.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the water supply and pump deviceshowing a high water level in the device and the pump operative.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In its simplest fonn the watersupply and pump for fountains comprises a container which is preferablycylindrical and which may obviously be formed of inexpensive moldedplastic. A shelflike partition 11 extends horizontally across thecontainer 10 inwardly of the upper end and supports a small fractionalhorsepower electric motor 12, the driven shaft 13 of which is extendeddownwardly through the partition ill and engaged in a centrifugal pump14. The water inlet of the pump 14 is in its central upper portion andthe outlet 15 is in its annular side and communicates with a tube 16which extends upwardly and through the partition 11 where it connectswith flexible tube 17 which leads upwardly to ajet or similar nozzle inthe fountain.

The fountain is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and includes a bowl 18positioned on a stand 19 and broken lines in dicate the location of thecontainer 10. Water from the bowl I8 flows downwardly through asecondary flexible tube 20 and into a cylindrical valve housing 21 whichis positioned on the partition 11. A vertically acting valve stem 22 inthe valve housing 21 has a valve element 23 thereon which registers witha valve seat 24 defining an opening in the partition 11 and establishingcommunication between the valve housing 21 and the container 10 belowthe petition II. A guide member 25 in the valve housing 21 guides theupper end of the valve stem 22 and the lower end of the valve stem 22has an enlarged end portion which is adapted to be engaged by one end ofa lever arm 26 which is pivoted at 27 to a bracket 28 carried by thepartition ii. The other end of the lever arm 26 carries a first float29.

A finger 30 formed on the lever arm 26 extends upwardly through anopening in the partition 11 and is positioned for engagement with theactuating arm 31 of a microswitch 32 which is mounted on the partition11 adjacent the motor 12. Circuit wires 33 connect the switch 32 in acontrol circuit with respect to the power supply wires 34 by means ofwhich electrical energy is delivered to the electric motor 12. Theelectric motor I2 is thus operated responsive to the position of thefirst float 29 and as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings the finger30 is spaced from the actuating arm 31 of the microswitch 32 and themotor I2 is inoperative and no water is being circulated by thecentrifugal pump 14.

When the float 29 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, it is supportedagainst further downward motion by a secondary finger 35 formed on asecondary arm 36 which is pivoted at 37 to a support 38 in the container10. A secondary float 39 on the secondary arm 36 moves responsive to thewater level in the container l0 and moves the secondary finger 35 intoand out of supporting position with respect to the first float 29.

Still referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that in thepositions illustrated with respect to the floats 29 and 39 the electricmotor will be inoperative and the valve element 23 will be open andwater from the bowl I8 in the valve housing 21 will flow into thechamber 10.

It will be seen that the opening of the valve element 23 is responsiveto two conditions which are dependent upon the level of the water supplyin the container 10. When the water supply is at a high level as shownin FIGS. 3 of the drawings the valve element 23 will be closed and waterfrom the bowl 18 of the fountain returns to the valve housing 21. As thewater level begins to fall due to the operation of the pump I4 which isoperating when the water level is high as seen in FIG. 3, the falling ofthe float 29 progressively opens the valve element 23. If the degree ofopening is not sufficient to maintain the water level in the container10 the downward movement of the first float 29 will be stopped by thesecondary finger 35 controlled by the secondary float 39 which will thenbe in its uppermost position and as the secondary float 39 begins tomove downwardly with the water level, the movement of the secondaryfinger 35 will permit the first float 29 to move lower and hence openthe valve element 23 to its full open position. If the water levelcontinues to fall more rapidly than it is being returned the finger 30moves away from the actuating arm 31 of the microswitch 32 and the motor12 and pump 14 become inoperative until such time as the water levelagain rises and the reverse motion of the floats 29 and 30 occurswhereupon the motor 12 and pump 14 again start up and the valving actionof the valve 23 in the valve housing 21 again attempts to control thewater level in the container 10.

It will thus be seen that the mechanism of the water supply and pumpdevice is self-adjusting and that under normal conditions it continuesto operative continuously. Variations in the amount of water in the bowl18 in the output of the pump 14 result in the aforesaid conditions andoperations responsive thereto.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A water supply and pump for a fountain comprising a container, a pumpin said container and a motor therefor for moving water from saidcontainer to said fountain, a valve housing and valve operable thereinfor returning water to said container, from said fountain, float meansin said container moving said valve in said valve housing and arrangedto vary the position of said valve responsive to the level of water inclaim 1 and wherein the float means comprises a lever arm, a first floatpivoted to said lever arm, said lever arm arranged to engage said valve,a second arm, a second float on said second arm having a finger movableinto engagement with said first float to bias the position thereof atvarious water levels in said container.

1. A water supply and pump for a fountain comprising a container, a pumpin said container and a motor therefor for moving water from saidcontainer to said fountain, a valve housing and valve operable thereinfor returning water to said container, from said fountain, float meansin said container moving said valve in said valve housing and arrangedto vary the position of said valve responsive to the level of water insaid container, a power source for said motor and means connecting saidmotor therewith, switch means in said connecting means responsive inoperation to said float means.
 2. The water supply and pump forfountains set forth in claim 1 and wherein said valve housing forms afirst water receiving chamber.
 3. The water supply and pump forfountains set forth in claim 1 and wherein the float means comprises alever arm, a first float pivoted to said lever arm, said lever armarranged to engage said valve, a second arm, a second float on saidsecond arm having a finger movable into engagement with said first floatto bias the position thereof at various water levels in said container.